MAJOR changes

You’ve chosen a major only to discover that it isn’t going to give you your dream job. Thousands of students have come to this conclusion throughout their college career. Like these students, you have every right to change your mind about your major. After all, making a decision and taking action to correct it is part of being an adult. Because you spend your first couple of years at college fulfilling general education requirements, you have time to seriously consider (and reconsider) your major options.

TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE
Make sure you’re considering change for the right reasons. Not all situations call for a change. Don’t get discouraged if just one class is causing you problems. Sometimes you just get stuck with a teacher who can’t present the material in a way you understand.
Every major has its troublesome classes. In these cases, try transferring to a class taught by a different teacher, or work harder to master the difficult material. The desire to go along with the crowd isn’t a good reason to make a major change. People have different talents, skills and interests, so no one major is right for everyone. Just because your friend signs up for a major doesn’t mean you should be quick to follow. You and you alone will have to live with your major decision, so don’t let anyone else make it for you.

VALID REASONS TO MAKE A CHANGE
While boredom in one class may not constitute a change, a general disinterest in several of your course’s subject matter may mean it’s time to reconsider your options. Given the time to explore, many students find skills and interests they hadn’t previously considered.
If you want to make a major change, how should you do it? Take your time to find out where your interests lie. If this doesn’t narrow your choices down, look into the undeclared-major program at your school. These programs allow you to take classes without a major in mind, giving you time to make a decision. Freshmen and sophomores can take courses from different areas to fulfill general education requirements while getting a feel for career opportunities.
Like those who declare a major, students in undeclared-major programs will be assigned an advisor with whom they can consult about school requirements. Your advisor can give you the information you’ll need to make a major decision when you’re ready. Taking this opportunity to explore your options may save you from having to change your major later.

MAKING IT OFFICIAL
Like many things in college, changing your major will require paperwork. If you need to change your major, you’ll need a change-of-major form from the admissions office, which your new department head must sign. If you are entering an entirely new program within the school, you might need to submit another admissions application. Again, your advisor can tell you the exact steps you’ll need to take.

IS IT EVER TOO LATE?
Generally speaking, most majors can be changed during your first two years of school without causing too much trouble. You can still change your mind after sophomore year, but you could be looking at more time in school, and that means spending more money, too. But an extra year in school doesn’t sound so bad when you consider that your major can determine the career path you’ll follow for the better part of your life.

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